On
August 5, 1995, two separate sets of hair samples were collected by three
persons (P. Freeman, B. Laughery, and W. Sumerlin) in the Blue Mountains
east of Walla Walla, Washington. The group first tracked three sets of
fresh foot prints, then found freshly twisted-off trees with hair caught
in them, and within a short time later observed a sasquatch at less than
100 feet with binoculars. The hair was sent to Dr. W. Henner Fahrenbach
(Beaverton, Oregon), who determined microscopically that the hair appeared
to have come from two individuals of the same species, that it differed
in color, length and hair growth cycle between the two sets, had not been
not cut, and was indistinguishable from human hair by any criterion.

Hence, DNA
analysis suggested itself as the only methodology of promise. Through a
nation-wide search of pertinent laboratories and some fortuitous contacts,
W.H.F. located an investigator (Dr. P. Fuerst) in the Department of Molecular
Genetics of Ohio State University, who had a specific interest in DNA analysis
of Wildman and sasquatch hair. The hair underwent lengthy and concerted
analytical study by Dr. Fuerst and a graduate student, J. A. Poe, both
with extensive experience in hair DNA analysis.

Although the
ultimate results have not generated a diagnostic sequence of a mitochondrial
gene, which might have yielded information on the relationship of the sasquatch
to other primates, we nonetheless decided to publish the outcome rather
than let the study fade away as most preceding such events have.

As of January
1998, the article is virtually finished except for some illustrative material
and will be shortly submitted to the Journal of Cryptozoology.

W. Henner Fahrenbach
Ph.D.

Affiliate Curator of the Bigfoot
Field Researchers Organization

Update, March 20, 1998:

Re: Interim Statement on the Blue
Mountain / Ohio Hair.

After lengthy deliberation, we (W.
H. Fahrenbach, J. A. Poe, and P. Fuerst), co-authors of the intended article
on the Eastern Washington hair found in August, 1995, have decided to withhold
submission of the manuscript of the analysis until more DNA from tissue,
preferably with attached hair, is obtained. Our studies have not yielded
a sequenced mitochondrial gene fragment to determine the phylogenetic affiliation
of the creature. The ambiguous results at the present time can, on the
one hand, generate misplaced enthusiasm and be quoted as "proof", or, on
the other hand, can be used by the opposite camp to criticize and denigrate
the results unfairly.

This decision emphasizes the critical
need to obtain tissue samples rather than hair alone. Such should be fresh
blood or possibly minimal shreds of torn skin caught on some obstruction.
Feces are not suitable at the present time. If such suggestive remains
are detected, they should be collected without contact by human hands directly
into a vial containing 70% alcohol and forwarded to one of the undersigned
investigators (hair to WHF).

I have by now a dozen purported sasquatch
hair samples, all morphologically congruent (which rules out hoaxing) and
all effectively indistinguishable from a human hair of the particular structure
(great variability is available among the latter). DNA extracted from both
hair shaft or roots (hair demonstrably fresh) was too fragmented to permit
gene sequencing. That characteristic is also sometimes found in human hair
that lacks the medulla (as does sasquatch hair - at least what I am willing
to identify as such).

I am concentrating now on blood or
tissue, as the hair holds no promise. Feces do so even less, since the
DNA collecting has to be done while they are practically steaming fresh,
and it is improbable in the extreme that anybody with fecal DNA expertize
would stumble onto fresh sasquatch droppings.

Contrary to popular belief, I have
not encountered any deliberate effort to produce a hoax with hair samples,
even in the much decried case of the fiber sample gathered by Paul Freeman.
The same man-made fibers have been found elsewhere in the mountains by
others and may be an environmental contaminant. People like Paul
Freeman submit these samples for analysis precisely because they are not
sure what they are at the time of collection.